Forceps



pto 1924' F.- PlETZ ET AL.

FORCEPS Filed April 15 1922 WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 3i), i924.

FBEDERICK IPIETZ AND JOHN COLETI'I, QF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

FORCEPS.

Application filed. April 15, 1922.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, FREDERICK Prn'rz and JOHN CoLn'rTr, citizens of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful improvements in Forceps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus, particularly to forceps designed primarily for use as a hemostat, the device being of such construction as to have a novel spring pressed pivot point which will operate positively to prevent any looseness of the jaws even after long continued use.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character in which the handle members are provided with novel automatically operating locking means for holding the jaws clamped tightly wherever the device is used.

It is well known that forceps of this type are used by surgeons in closing blood vessels for preventing bleeding while operations are being performed.

It is also well known that after long use the ordinary forceps or hemostat becomes loose at the joint so that the handles have a certain degree of relative play which permit the jaws to relax their grip upon the vein or artery.

It is with these defects in view that we have designed the present device which is free from these objections and which is moreover capable of use not only as a hemostat but also for holding Sponges, gauze or in fact any other article or material used in surgery and in other arts.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, etilcient and durable in use and a general improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device,

Figure 2 is a side view,

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section through the pivot point,

Figure 4. is a cross section therethrough and Serial No. 553,039.

Figure 5 is a detail section showing the locking means. Referring' more particularly to the drawings we have shown our device as comprising a pair of similar members 10 which are plvoted in crossed relation as indicated at 11 and which have one end terminating in loops 12 constituting finger grips and their other ends terminating in jaws 13 which may be straight or which may be curved as shown in the drawings.

One of the essential features of the device is the provision of a recess 14 which is formed in one of the members 1() and which extends longitudinally thereof. Located within this recess is a bowed leaf spring 15 through which passes a reduced extension 16 on the pivot l1, the extremity of the extension being subsequently upset to provide retaining means.. The locking means consists of a pair of extensions 17 which are formed on theiinger loops 12 and which extend toward each other in overlapping relation as shown.V Carried by one extension 17 is a keeper 18 which is formed as a rivet passed through the extension and having one end upset as shown at 19 and the upper end formed as an enlarged head having an inclined face 2O and a shoulder 21. The other extension 17 is formed with a series of holes 22 within any one of which the keeper 18 may engage and one edge of each hole is preferably slightly beveled as indicated at 23.

The above described forceps are used in exactly the saine manner as those of the well known type and it will be observed that when the handles or finger grips are drawn together to exert the clamping action by the jaws 13 the keeper 18 will ride over the ex tension 17 formed with the holes 22, the keeper engaging within one of the holes with its shoulder 21 abuttingly engaging against the unbeveled face of the hole so that opening of the jaws will be positively prevented. It is to be noted that the bowed lea-f spring 15 associated with the pivot pin 11 always operates to maintain a tight joint and prevent any looseness whatever which might result 'from long continued use.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that we have thus provided a simply cona structed and consequently inexpensive instrument which is high-ly advantageous for use as a hemostat inasmuch as slipping will be positively prevented by virtue of the peculiar pivotal connection and theA novel automatic locking means.

While We have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is of course to be understood that we reserve the right to make such changes in the forni, construction and arrangement of parts as Will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim. i

We claim:

ln forceps including a pair of handle members pivoted in cross relation, said handle members terminating at one end in tin-V ger grips and at their other ends in active jaws, lugs formed integrally upon the handle members near thetinger grin equipped ends thereot` and extending toward each other, one lug being formed With a plurality of openings extending therethrough and the other carrying a rivet having a projecting portion adapted to be engaged Wit-hin a selected one of said openings, Said projecting portion having a Abeveled surface and square retaining shoulder.

In testimony whereof We aliizr our signatures. i

FREDERICK PIETZ. 'JOHN COLETTL 

